Charlize Theron, besides being an Academy Award-winning actor, is also a full-throttle action star, delivering mean punches, lethal shots and back-to-back blockbusters. Her characters in the Fast & Furious films and The Old Guard reveal that her command of the genre is on par with her nuanced portrayal of dramatic roles. With the premiere of The Old Guard 2 on 2 July, it’s the right time to revisit the best Charlize Theron action movies.
Remember when Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) swept over the cinemas? It wasn’t just Tom Hardy’s Max who stole the screen. There was also Theron’s shaven-headed imperator Furiosa, leading a feminist revolution across a post-apocalyptic desert. The film earned 10 Oscar nominations and became a benchmark for the action genre, thanks in large part to Theron’s powerhouse performance.
Then came Atomic Blonde (2017), an action film in which Charlize Theron tackled one of the most physically demanding roles of her career. As the MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton, she delivered eye-popping fight scenes, especially the famous stairwell brawl in Berlin. Theron produced the film as well, showing she is equally adept behind the camera.
As Cipher, the icy cyber-terrorist in 2017’s The Fate of the Furious from the Fast & Furious series, Theron brought a sinister edge to a franchise built on high-octane action and speed. Her ability to wreak havoc almost without lifting a finger catapulted her into the ranks of the franchise’s most memorable villains.
In 2020, The Old Guard saw Charlize Theron take on the role of Andy, an immortal mercenary. The Netflix film smashed records, racking up 78 million views in its first month. Her agility and mastery of martial arts proved that the best Charlize Theron action films are every bit as gritty and gripping as any in the genre. Now that the sequel, The Old Guard 2, has landed on Netflix, fans are diving back into a world of high-octane action and epic adventures.
Several other popular titles, such as Æon Flux (2005), F9 (2021), and Fast X (2023), also showcase Charlize Theron in her action avatar. However, to narrow down the list to the best, we have only considered titles with IMDb ratings above 6.
Here are the best Charlize Theron action movies ranked, based on their IMDb ratings
Director: Rupert Sanders
Other cast: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Sam Spruell
Runtime: 2 hours 7 mins
IMDb rating: 6.1
Synopsis: Snow White (Stewart), imprisoned by the evil queen Ravenna (Theron), escapes just as the Magic Mirror reveals that her heart holds the key to Ravenna’s eternal youth and power. Ravenna sends a local huntsman (Hemsworth) to bring her back. However, upon finding her, the huntsman realises that he has been deceived. He turns against Ravenna’s men and protects Snow White.
About her role: In this fantasy-action movie, Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Ravenna, her icy elegance coupled with unhinged rage, elevates the character’s sinister nature and wickedness. The scene in which she forcefully drains the life from a young village girl to restore her youth, and the confrontation with Snow White, where she transforms into a flock of ravens, are incredibly vile and sure to make your hair stand on end.
Awards won: Nominated for two Oscars in 2013 — Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects.
2 /9
Director: Nash Edgerton
Other cast: David Oyelowo, Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried
Runtime: 1 hour 51 mins
IMDb rating: 6.1
Synopsis: Harold Soyinka (Oyelowo), a mild-mannered pharmaceutical employee, becomes entangled in a dangerous web of drug cartels, corporate betrayal, and fake kidnappings during a business trip to Mexico. As he transitions from a law-abiding citizen to a wanted criminal, Harold struggles to survive, all while discovering just how volatile his situation truly is.
About her role: Theron plays Elaine Markinson, a sharp-tongued, manipulative executive at the pharmaceutical company where Harold works. She uses her charm and intimidating personality to control business dealings, often at Harold’s expense. This ultimately sets in motion the chaotic events of the film. Theron also serves as a producer on the action comedy.
3 /9
Director: Peter Berg
Other cast: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Johnny Galecki
Runtime: 1 hour 32 mins
IMDb rating: 6.4
Synopsis: The powerful superhero John Hancock (Smith) causes more harm than good while trying to save lives in Los Angeles, due to his alcoholism and clumsiness. When he saves the life of PR specialist Ray Embrey (Bateman), Ray offers to help improve Hancock’s public image. Hancock visits Ray, only to discover a mysterious connection with the man’s wife, Mary (Theron), who doesn’t want him anywhere near her family.
About her role: Theron’s performance in the superhero genre showcases her ability to deliver action-packed scenes in every storyline. Her calm exterior is a facade to the complex character within, who is torn between love, duty, and self-preservation, and linked to Hancock’s past and his true identity. The film was also a box office success, earning over USD 629 million worldwide against a budget of USD 150 million.
Image credit: Hancock/ © 2008 – Columbia/TriStar via IMDb
Director: F. Gary Gray
Other cast: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michelle Rodriguez
Runtime: 2 hours 16 mins
IMDb rating: 6.6
Synopsis: On their honeymoon, Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is approached by the cyber-terrorist Cipher (Theron), who blackmails him into betraying his team. During a mission in Berlin, Dom goes rogue and steals a powerful device, leaving Letty (Rodriguez), Roman (Gibson), Tej (Bridges), and Ramsey (Emmanuel) in shock. Agent Hobbs (Johnson) is arrested after the mission and ends up imprisoned alongside former foe Deckard Shaw (Statham).
About her role: Charlize Theron plays Cipher, a cold and calculating cyber-terrorist. Operating from a hidden jet base, she wields control over global threats, causing chaos while rarely engaging in direct action. Her composed and menacing presence stands out in a high-octane ensemble, and the film’s Havana street race, submarine chase, and plane hijack sequences are nothing short of spectacular.
5 /9
Director: David Leitch
Other cast: James McAvoy, John Goodman, Bill Skarsgård
Runtime: 1 hour 55 mins
IMDb rating: 6.7
Synopsis: Just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is sent alone into Berlin after the murder of a fellow agent. She must recover a leaked dossier of double agents. As she navigates the perilous waters, Lorraine teams up with station chief David Percival (McAvoy) to find her way out.
About her role: Cold, calculative and charming, Lorraine is not shy about getting her hands dirty. When you see her take on foes in the 10-minute single-take stairwell fight scene, you understand why Theron is hailed as a modern-day action star. Atomic Blonde raked in over USD 100 million against a budget of USD 30 million.
6 /9
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Other cast: KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari
Runtime: 2 hours 5 mins
IMDb rating: 6.7
Synopsis: Led by fearless warrior Andy (Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with the mysterious quality of immortality has protected the world for centuries. But when the team is recruited for an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it is up to Andy and newly recruited soldier Nile (Layne) to help the group eliminate the threat.
About her role: With its theme of immortal heroes, The Old Guard presents Charlize Theron in a powerful action avatar. The knockout action sequences led by her throughout the Netflix film further cement her status as an action star.
Also read: These highest-rated action K-dramas like My Name don’t hold back on the punches
Director: F. Gary Gray
Other cast: Donald Sutherland, Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Yasiin Bey
Runtime: 1 hour 51 mins
IMDb rating: 7
Synopsis: John Bridger (Sutherland) and Charlie Croker (Wahlberg) lead a team to steal USD 35 million in gold from a heavily guarded safe in Venice. After the heist, Steve (Norton) betrays his teammates, taking the gold and attempting to kill the others. The survivors follow him to Los Angeles, where they join forces with John’s daughter Stella (Theron), a professional safe-breaker, to take revenge and retrieve the gold.
About her role: Stella’s tough personality, grit, and attitude make her a standout character in the film. Despite sharing the screen with several action heavyweights, Theron ensures she commands attention every time she appears.
Image credit: The Italian Job via IMDb
Director: Travis Knight
Other voice cast: Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara
Runtime: 1 hour 41 mins
IMDb rating: 7.7
Synopsis: In feudal Japan, 12-year-old Kubo (Parkinson) lives in a mountain cave with Monkey (Theron), a reincarnation of his mother. He entertains villagers by magically animating origami with music, telling stories about his missing father, Hanzo. Warned never to stay out after dark, Kubo defies this and draws the attention of his sinister aunts and grandfather, the Moon King (Fiennes).
About her role: The action-fantasy film highlights Theron’s skill in voice acting, showcasing her depth and presence even off-screen. As a fierce yet caring guardian, she guides young Kubo through danger and discovery, adding emotional weight to the story. Her performance helps make the film a compelling and memorable watch.
Awards won: Nominated for two Oscars in 2017: Best Animated Feature and Best Visual Effects. Won Best Animated Film at the BAFTA and got nominated for the Golden Globe in the same category.
Director: George Miller
Other cast: Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Runtime: 2 hours
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: In a vast post-apocalyptic desert, Max Rockatansky (Hardy) struggles to evade Immortan Joe (Keays-Byrne), a tyrant who controls the water supply. Max soon joins forces with Imperator Furiosa (Theron), a defector fleeing the Citadel in an armoured truck with Joe’s five wives. As they are relentlessly pursued, Max and Furiosa must fight to survive.
About her role: This role of Theron’s needs no introduction. As a fierce warrior and leader, she redefined the standards of the action genre. She commands the screen with such force that she refuses to be just another co-lead.
Awards won: Won six Oscars in 2016, including Best Film Editing and Best Costume Design. It also won four BAFTAs.
